UPCOMING CARS MODELS

UPCOMING CARS MODELS

THE LANCER EVO WAS THE ULTIMATE IN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE PERFORMANCE WHEN MITSUBISHI FIRST BROUGHT IT TO THE UNITED STATES IN 2003. BUT THE YEARS SINCE HAVE NOT BEEN KIND TO MITSUBISHI, WHICH HAS BEEN UNABLE TO KEEP PACE WITH JAPANESE COMPETITORS. REPORTS FROM JAPAN SAY THE EVO PRODUCTION WILL STOP AT THE END OF 2014.

ONLY ON SALE SINCE 2011, THE MCLAREN 12C RELAUNCHED THE BRITISH RACE TEAM AS A CREDIBLE BUILDER OF ROAD CARS, BUT THE STYLING WAS APPARENTLY NOT PASSIONATE ENOUGH. AFTER REVEALING THE MORE EXPRESSIVE 650S THIS YEAR USING THE SAME CHASSIS AND ENGINE, MCLAREN SAID THE 12C WOULD NO LONGER BE BUILT.

TOYOTA'S RETRO OFF-ROADER WAS WARMLY RECEIVED WHEN IT LAUNCHED IN 2006, WITH MORE THAN 56,000 SALES. LAST YEAR, SALES FELL TO ABOUT 13,000 IN THE UNITED STATES, AND TOYOTA ANNOUNCED PRODUCTION WOULD END THIS YEAR WITH NO NAMED SUCCESSOR.

THIS ONE HITS HOME. THE CADILLAC CTS WAGON AND ITS 556-HP V VARIANT HAVE NEVER BEEN HUGE SELLERS, DESPITE THEIR ENDEARING POPULARITY AMONG AUTO WRITERS. WHILE CADILLAC WILL BUILD THE CURRENT CTS COUPE FOR ONE MORE YEAR, THE WAGON "IS NOT IN THE MIX" FOR THE NEW-GENERATION CTS.

INSTEAD OF RELYING ON A TESLA-POWERED ELECTRIC VERSION OF ITS CROSSOVER TO MEET CALIFORNIA RULES FOR ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES, TOYOTA WILL BEGIN IMPORTING ITS FIRST FUEL-CELL VEHICLES AS 2015 MODELS.

AS IT READIES A NEW AMG GT, MERCEDES HAS BROUGHT THE CURTAIN DOWN ON THE GULLWING-DOORED SLS AND ITS MANY HOT-ROD VARIANTS, INCLUDING THE $550,000 ELECTRIC VERSION.

 

THAT YOU CAN STILL BUY A DODGE AVENGER WITH A FOUR-SPEED TRANSMISSION IN 2014 SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT HOW OLD THE UNDERLYING CHASSIS OF CHRYSLER'S MID-SIZED SEDANS HAD BECOME. INSTEAD OF SPLITTING ITS CUSTOMERS, CHRYSLER CHOSE TO SELL THE NEW 200 WITHOUT A DODGE TWIN — LEAVING RENTAL-CAR FLEETS WITH ONE FEWER FAVORITE.

 

AS JAGUAR TURNS TO OTHER MODELS, INCLUDING THE UPCOMING 3-SERIES-FIGHTING XE, IT'S SAYING SO LONG TO ITS LARGE XK COUPE.

AFTER 53 YEARS IN PRODUCTION, THE FORD E-SERIES FULL-SIZE VAN (THE HAULER FORMERLY KNOWN AS ECONOLINE) WILL BE REPLACED BY THE GLOBALLY STYLED FORD TRANSIT.

DESPITE NO ONE EVER REQUESTING A CONVERTIBLE TWO-DOOR SUV, NISSAN BUILT ONE WITH THE MURANO CROSSCABRIOLET, THE WEIRDEST MODEL FROM A MAJOR AUTOMAKER SINCE THE PONTIAC AZTEK. WITH THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW MURANO, NISSAN IS LETTING THE CROSSCABRIOLET TRUNDLE INTO THE SUNSET.